Mount for cutter drive member



United States Patent O 3,191,299 MUNT FR CUTTER DRIVE MEMBER David R. Locke, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 18, 1962, Ser. No. 203,031 4 @lain-ss. {@1. Elib-43.92)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric dry shavers and in particular to a mounting for a cutter drive member.

The present invention is an improvement on the mounting for a cutter drive member of the type shown and described in U.S. patent application Serial No. 1,547, filed Ian. 11, 196() and entitled Cutter Drive Mechanism, and which application has matured into US. Patent No. 3,105,298 granted Oct. l, 1963.

Known cutter drive members, of which the type disclosed in the mentioned patent application is an example, provide for a cutter drive member having a drive arm formed to engage the inner cutter of a shaver cutter head assembly. Flexible supporting leg portions depend from the drive member and are set in supports formed in the exterior surface of a wall portion of the shaver casing. This Wall portion is also formed with additional supports to mount the cutter head assembly on the casing. An electric motor is contained Within the shaver casing and has a drive shaft projecting through an opening in the said wall portion to engage and reciprocate the cutter drive member during operation of the motor to operate the inner cutter. A sealing strip is provided between the cutter head assembly and the cutter drive member to seal the drive member in a chamber formed in the wall portion to prevent hair clippings or face powder from gathering in the mentioned cutter drive supports.

A problem in cutter drive mountings for Shavers is the complex structure required of casing wall portions, which portions must support both the cutter head assembly and the cutter drive member. Considerable ditlculty is also encountered when the shaver is operated or when the cutter head assembly is removed from the casing for cleaning wherein hair clippings work their way into the cutter drive chamber. The hair clippings and face powder raise the leg portions of the drive member from the drive supports which as a result creates an unnecessary load on the inner cutter. Of even greater consequence is the possibility that these hair clippings will enter the opening from the motor compartment formed in the wall portion through which the drive shaft projects and enter the drive shaft bearingl housing.

An object of this .invention is to provide a novel and economical mount for a cutter drive member Within an electric dry shaver casing.

Another object is to provide a novel mount for a cutter drive member of relatively few and simple parts to facilitate in the manufacture of an electric dry shaver.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel mount for cutter drive member for an electric dry shaver and which mount is located within the motor compartment and which mount functions to position the motor therein.

A still further object is to provide a novel mount for a cutter drive member whereby hair clippings and face powder are prevented from clogging the supports therefor.

The present invention contemplates a mount for an electric dry shaver cutter drive member and which mount is integrally formed on an end bell portion of the shaver motor. The cutter drive member is mounted on supports formed in the end bell in the motor compartment and is separated from the cutter head assembly by portions of the shaver casing sections which serve as a barrier to prevent hair clippings from entering the said supports and interfering with the operation of the cutter drive member. The end bell is further provided with means integral with said supports for positioning the motor in the shaver casing.

The other and above objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary partly cross-sectional elevational view of an electric dry shaver embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the electric dry shaver of FIG. l with portions of the casing broken away;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electric dry shaver with the hair pocket cutter head assembly and sealing strip removed;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the electric dry shaver motor end bell and cutter drive member mount;

FIG. S is a perspective view of the cutter drive member; and

FIG. 6 is a front View of the end bell and cutter drive member mount.

Referring now to the drawing for a more detailed description of the present invention an electric dry shaver is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1. The main body portion of the electric dry shaver is formed of two casing sections 11 and 12, respectively. Each casing section 11 and 12 is formed ioppositely to the other of molded plastic and each section has a sidewall 13 together with laterally extending endwalls 14 projecting in the same direction from sidewall 13. Endwalls 14 of casing section 11 are so constructed that the edges thereof engage the edges of endwalls of casing section 12. The top wall portion 15 formed by the two casing sections have opposite edge portions formed with recesses to slidably receive leaf springs 16 and latches 17 which detachably mount a separate hair pocket casing section 18 on the shaver casing. Within the area defined by h-air pocket 13, the top wall portion 15 of casing sections 11 and 12 have outwardly extending wall portions 19 having cutter supports 21 formed thereon to seat cutter head assembly 22. Recesses 23 are formed in the outer surface of the outwardly extending wall portions 19 on each casing section to provide indentations to receive the free ends of clamps 24 (FIG. 3) which secure the casing sections 11 and 12 together in assembled relationship. Clamps 24 are formed of sheet metal strips having a longitudinal rib portion 25. A linger portion 26 extends outwardly from the rib 25 and detachably secures the cutter head assembly 22 to the supports 21. An additional clamping member 27 holds the casing sections 11 and 12 together at the bottom side ofthe casing as seen in FIG. 1.

It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the art that the novel cutter drive mount which is to be hereinafter described in detail is not limited to use with the particular shaver casing described and is readily adaptable for use in other types of electric dry shaver casings.

Cutter head assembly 22 may include one or more cutter heads, three being illustrated in FIG. 2, each having a movable inner cutter 2E and an outer cutter 29 which outer cutter is secured to a mounting plate 31 by screws (not shown) or other similar fastening means. Mounting plate 31 and cutter head are constructed in a manner disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,793,430, patented May 28, i957. A leaf spring 32 has opposite ends engaged with opposite ends of an inner cutter (FIG. l) and the ce central portion of the leaf spring 32 is formed with a centering and driving portion indicated at 33.

When the casing .sections il and l2 are in assembled relationship, the mentioned top wall l5 of the casing defines the upper wall of a motor compartment 3d. An electric motor partly shown and generallyrindicated by reference number 35 is disposed in the motor compartment 34 between the inner surfaces of sidewalls 13 and endwalls f4 of the casing sections il and i2. Motor 35 is of the type having an outer frame which is rectangular in transverse cross section. The frame comprises separable L-shaped plates 37 and 38, each having foot portions 59 and 4l and leg portions 42 `and 43, respectively. Apertures 44 are provided in leg portions 42 and 43, respectively, which are shaped to receive radially extending lugs 45 formed in an upper end bell 46 of the motor 35. Upper end bell so is formed of a molded strip of nonmagnet-icrriaterial such as plastic and has reinforcing ribs 35a provided therein. Additional lugs 45 are provided on a lower motor end bell 47 for insertion in the lower apertures 4d of the frame plates 37 and 33 to lock the frame plates in assembled position to retain therein a rotatable armature (not shown) and the stator (not shown) in operative position. Upper end bell 46 is provided wit'n annulusd at the bottom (FG. 6) to receive a bearing 49 of the drive shaft 5l. Upper end bell d6 is provided with leg portions 52 depending perpendicularly from the opposite side edges of the top surface 53 and which leg portions each partly overlie a Yfoot'portion 39 or di, respectively of the motor frame. Recesses 54 are formed in the opposite 'sidewalls of the upper end bell leg portions 52 to receive horizontal projections 55 formed on the inner surface of the casing sidewalls, as shown in FIG. 2, to support and position the motor 35 in the motor compartment 3ft when the casing sections are clamped together as above described. The foot of each upper end bell leg portion 52 is provided with a recess bearing portion 56 having transverse wall portions 57. provided between guide ribs 58 and which guide ribs 53 are formed on opposite sidewalls of the recess portion 56. Opposing guide ribs and disposed at the center portion 58 are at opposite ends of the recess portions 56 to provide supports for a cutter drive member 59.

Cutter drive member 5? is of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,105,298 granted Gctober l, 1963 and is formed of molded plastic material such as nylon. Cutter drive member 59 has a body or strip portion el. Flexible integral supporting leg portions 62 are formed at opposite ends of strip 6l and extend laterally and substantially perpendicular from the end edges of the strip 6l. Supporting legs 62 have their extremities formed with straight flat edges 63 arranged in `spaced parallel relation to the strip portion el. The extremities or hat edges 63 of supporting legs 62 are engaged with the at transverse wall portions 57 of guide ribs 58 in recess bearing portion 56 of leg portions 52 of upper end bell 46 and which legs 62 are adapted to iex relative to the strip portion 6ft. The cutter drive member strip portion 6i is provided intermediate the ends thereof at a transverse portion 6d with a traverse slot 64A indicated by broken lines in FGS. l and 5 having walls for engaging with the surface of an eccentric pin 65 on the end of the motor drive shaft 51 so that in rotation of shaft 5l the eccentric pin 65 will engage the walls of the cutter drive member slot and reciprocate the cutter drive member 59 longitudinally back and forth on flexible supporting legs 62, Cutter drive member transverse portion 64 is provided with drive arms 66 extending laterally in an opposite direction to the supporting legs 62 to each engage a movable inner cutter 28 of the cutter head assembly 22. Drive arms 66 project through an opening 67 in top wall portion and which opening 67 is formed by recesses in the edges of the casing sections il and 12 as shown in FIG. 3. Each drive arm 65 is provided with a rounded terminal portion for engaging the mentioned centering portion 33 of inner cutter leaf spring 32 as shown in FG. l. rthe drive arms 66 vare of suliicient length to place the leaf spring 32 under suicient tension in a well-known manner so that inner cutter 2S as well as cutter drive member 59 is spring pressed into operative position for normal operation of the shaver. ln operation of the motor, the cutter drive member 59 will drive the inner cutter 28 in a straight line preventing the inner cutters from moving transversely of their longitudinal axes or from dipping at their op posite ends.

A sealing strip 68 formed of sponge rubber or similar material is disposed on the outer surface of top wall porton l5 between the cutter head assembly 22 and the wall. The central portion of strip 68 is provided with an aperture 69 through which project the drive arms 65 ofthe cutter drive member 59.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the novel mount for cutter drive member 59 and associated casing structure has many advantages in use. One advantage is the fact that the cutter drive member mount is contained wholly within the motor compartment of the casing and is formed integrally on an end bell of the shaver motor. This structure is advantageous in that complex casing structure formed in the casing walls heretofore used for supporting the drive member is eliminated. A further advantage is that the cutter drive member and supports are sealed from the cutter head assembly whereby hair clippings are prevented from entering the cutter drive support and interfering with their proper operation. Unnecessary tampering with the cutter drive member by .a user when cleaning the cutter head after use is prevented since the member is not accessible to the user unless the casing sections are disassembled and the motor removed from the casing.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as the same -will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. An electric shaver comprising,

(a) a casing having a motor compartment with one wall thereof provided with an opening,

(b) a motor disposed in said motor compartment and having a rotatable shaft with its axis of rotation extending normal to said wall,

(c) end bells for the motor adjacent opposite ends of the shaft for supporting the latter for rotation, and said shaft extending through one of said end bells,

(d) said one end bell having a portion disposed in a tirst plane extending transversely of the axis of said shaft and a pair of oppositely disposed end portions arranged in planes disposed perpendicular to said first plane,

(e) said oppositely disposed end portions being formed to provide recessed bearing portions,

(f) a cutter drive member connected in driving relationship with said motor for operation thereby,

(g) said cutter drive member having a rst surface arranged in a plane parallel to said first plane and having a pair of depending legs arranged in planes substantially parallel to the planes containing the oppositely disposed end portions of said one end bell,

(h) said depending legs having their respective ends disposed in the recessed bearing portions of said one end bell,

(i) a driving arm on said cutter drive member extending through the opening of said one wall of the motor compartment,

(j) and a cutter head assembly disposed externally of the motor compartment and adjacent said one wall, said cutter head assembly having a movable cutter element operable by said drive arm movable thereby.

2. The electric motor of claim l wherein projections are provided on the interior surfaces of said casing within the motor compartment, and recessed portions are formed in the oppositely disposed end portions of said one end bell to receive said projections whereby the motor is securely mounted within said motor compartment.

3. An electric shaver comprising,

(a) a casing having a motor compartment with a horizontally disposed top wail provided with an opening,

(b) a motor disposed in said motor compartment having a shaft with an axis of rotation extending vertically,

(c) upper and lower horizontal end bells supporting opposite ends of the shaft for rotation, and the shaft extending through the upper end bell,

(d) said upper end bell having depending and vertically disposed end portions provided with recessed bearing portions,

(e) a cutter drive member disposed Within the motor compartment and connected in driving relationship with said motor Jfor operation thereby,

(f) said cutter drive member having a first surface arranged parallel to the top Wall or the casing and a pair of depending legs extending vertically and parallel to the end portions of said upper end bell,

(g) said depending legs having their respective ends disposed yin the recessed bearing portions of said upper end bell,

h) a drive arm on said cutter drive member extending through the opening of said top wall,

(i) and a cutter head assembly disposed above said top Wall and externally of the motor compartment, said cutter head assembly having a movable cutter element operable by said drive arm and movable thereby.

4. An electric shaver comprising,

(a) a easing having a motor compartment with one Wall thereof provided with an opening,

(b) a motor disposed in said motor compartment and having a rotatable shaft with its axis of rotation extending normal to said wall,

(c) end bells for the motor provided adjacent opposite ends of the shaft for supporting said shaft for rotation, and said shaft extending through one of said end bells,

(d) said one end bell having a portion disposed in a iirst plane extending transversely of the axis of said shaft and arranged parallel to said one wall of said easing,

(e) a pair oi spaced recessed bearing portions provided in said portion of said one end bell at opposite sides of said axis of rotation of said shaft,

(f) a cutter drive member connected in driving relationship with said motor for operation thereby,

(g) said cutter drive member disposed within said motor compartment and having a tirst surface arranged in a plane parallel to said first plane,

(h) said cutter drive member having spaced iexible legs arranged in planes parallel to said axis of rotation and having their respective ends disposed in said recessed bearing portions of said one end bell,

(i) a driving arm on said cutter drive member extending through said opening of said one Wall or" the motor compartment, and

(j) a cutter head assembly disposed externally of the motor compartment and adjacent said one wall, said cutter head assembly having a movable cutter element operable by said drive arm and movable thereby.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED ST TES PATENTS 2,530,759 ll/5O Collins et al E30-41.6 X 2,601,720 5/52 Carissimi 3043.92 2,814,866 12/57 Bagno '5G- 43.92 3,039,188 6/62 Somers et al. 30-43.92 3,072,809 1/63 Jepson et al 30-43-92 X 3,105,298 10/63 Carissimi 30-4392 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,174,958 11/58 France. 531,919 8/55 Italy.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. EDWARD V. BENHAM, Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRIC SHAVER COMPRSING, (A) A CASING HAVING A MOTOR COMPARTMENT WITH ONE WALL THEREOF PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING, (B) A MOTOR DISPOSED IN SAID MOTOR COMPARTMENT AND HAVING A ROTATABLE SHAFT WITH ITS AXIS OF ROTATION EXTENDING NORMAL TO SAID WALL, (C) END BELLS FOR THE MOTOR ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SHAFT FOR SUPPORTING THE LATTER FOR ROTATION, AND SAID SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH ONE OF SAID END BELLS, (D) SAID ONE END BELL HAVING A PORTION DISPOSED IN A FIRST PLANE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE AXIS OF SAID SHAFT AND A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED END PORTIONS ARRANGED IN PLANES DISPOSED PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FIRST PLANE, (E) SAID OPPOSITELY DISPOSED END PORTIONS BEING FORMED TO PROVIDE RECESSED BEARING PORTIONS, (F) A CUTTER DRIVE MEMBER CONNECTED IN DRIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID MOTOR FOR OPERATION THEREBY, (G) SAID CUTTER DRIVE MEMBER HAVING A FIRST SURFACE ARRANGED IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST PLANE AND HAVING A PAIR OF DEPENDING LEGS ARRANGED IN PLANES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANES CONTAINING THE OPPOSITELY DISPOSED END PORTIONS OF SAID ONE END BELL, (H) SAID DEPENDING LEGS BEING HAVING THEIR RESPECTIVE ENDS DISPOSED IN THE RECESSED BEARING PORTIONS OF SAID ONE END BELL, (I) A DRIVING ARM ON SAID CUTTER DRIVE MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPENING OF SAID ONE WALL OF THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT, (J) AND A CUTTER HEAD ASSEMBLY DISPOSED EXTERNALLY OF THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT AND ADJACENT SAID ONE WALL, SAID CUTTER HEAD ASSEMBLY HAVING A MOVABLE CUTTER ELEMENT OPERABLE BY SAID DRIVE ARM MOVABLE THEREBY. 